Ed Walker is hopeful Came From The Dark can bounce back to form in this Saturday's Group Two Temple Stakes at Haydock Park.
The six-year-old improved rapidly last season winning a handicap at Newbury before finishing second in the Group Three Betfair Palace House Stakes at Newmarket and winning the Group Three Coral Charge at Sandown Park in July. But the gelded son of Dark Angel missed the rest of the campaign with injury.
He made his return to action back at Newmarket last month, but was down the field in the field in 10th in the Palace House Stakes behind the reopposing Khaadem. But trainer Walker believes he can step up markedly on that first run of the season back at the Merseyside track where he’s won at three times in the past.
Walker said: “The Temple Stakes is the plan for Came From The Dark and he loves Haydock.
“He wouldn’t mind any rain between now and Saturday. We were very disappointed with his comeback run but he’s capable of throwing in a dud every now and again, so hopefully he can bounce back. He’s in good form though and this was always the target.
“Touch wood, my guys have done a brilliant job with him and they’ve got him back to soundness and good form so I think we’re on the straight and narrow. He’s fit, well and sound so hopefully we can get back on track.”
Came From The Dark is a best-priced 15-2 with bet365 behind William Hill's 7-4 favourite, the Nunthorpe Stakes heroine Winter Power.
Walker believes Saturday’s contest can be the the perfect stepping stone for the rest of the season with several runners at Haydock likely to line up in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.
The Upper Lambourn-based handler added: “He was just full of confidence last season, I think his wind was causing him a problem and we got it fixed in winter 2020 and then he flew in 2021 and got injured – but we’re pretty hopeful that we can get a good shot at it this year, starting with the weekend.”
Tim Easterby's Group One star Winter Power will make her seasonal return on Merseyside. Fellow Group-race performers like Henry Candy's Twilight Calls, the Andrew Balding-trained King’s Lynn, who is owned by The Queen, and the aforementioned Khaadem, for the Charlie Hills' stable who have won the race twice recently with the brilliant Battaash, were among the 14 entries ahead of the final declaration stage on Thursday morning.
Twilight Calls is a best-priced 11-2 with Coral and bet365 with King's Lynn and Khaadem both currently available at around the 8-1 mark.
The seven-race card at Haydock also includes the Group Two Sandy Lane Stakes, which has been used as a stepping to the Royal meeting in the past, with Karl Burke's El Caballo – unbeaten in his last five starts on the all-weather tracks – is currently Coral's 3-1 favourite. Also at 3-1 with a number of firms is Go Bears Go, who won the Group Three Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot last month.
Clive Cox – who won the race with Harry Angel in 2017 – could be double-handed with Wings Of War and Caturra.
Saturday's meeting is the second of two days action at the Merseyside track with the card on Friday starting at 1.20pm.
The seven-furlong Silver Bowl Handicap is another pointer to Royal Ascot and John and Thady Gosden's Mighty Ulysses is a best-priced 3-1 favourite with Coral, having won a Novice Stakes at Newmarket recently in good style on just his third start.
The first race on Saturday is the Florida Handicap Stakes due off at 1.30pm with the finale at 4.55pm. Gates open at 11.30am and tickets start from £20. To book tickets and for more information go online at https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/haydock/events-tickets/temple-stakes/
